The book is an ex library book and possibly a library edition of the Hobbit - IT has NO front and rear maps I have researched this book to the best of my ability and have found that some library editions of the first printing of the Hobbit did NOT contain maps

A lot of libraries rebound books (these were not specific library editions). The Hobbit has the maps on the bindings and when the book was rebound the maps were disposed of with the original binding.

My comments were based on a statement in the latest edition of Collected Books concerning first editions of the Hobbit. It stated that some first edition library copies of the Hobbit have been seen without the end maps. I revised my ebay listing to state that. Thank you for the comment.

I thank you people for the comments - I should have asked you to proofread my listing before I listed it! I have revised the listing on Ebay. I am now firmly convinced that it is a first edition The Hobbit that was a library copy that was rebound. The maps were likely discarded or covered over, but I still know that in the latest edition of Collected Books there is a reference to some copies being seen with no end maps. I have e mailed one of the authors of Collected Books and they taking a look at the pictures and description and are going to let me know what they think. Again - thank you for the comments.